p.1 #1 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Hello FM Members!
I'm currently undergoing the switch from APS-C to FF, hooray!
This entails purchasing new glass as I have funds and need for it.
The first major change I have to make is in my astrophotography lens. (Our entire family summer vacation is based around some serious astrophotography) I'm currently using a Rokinon 16/2.0, but that being a crop sensor lens, it needs to be replaced.
The candidate lenses (as shown in the topic) are the Rokinon 24/1.4, Sigma 24/1.4, and Sigma 20/1.4.
My fear with the Rokinon is getting a misaligned copy, and having to send it back or try to get it repaired under warranty. Also... although I have had good results, I really don't prefer a manual focus lens (feel free to lecture me about the joys of manual focus lenses). Manual focus makes everyday landscape shooting more complicated, and is just one more step between me and the exposure.
Those two hits against the cheaper Rokinon lead me to the new, wide/ultra wides in the Sigma Art line. I think the 24/1.4 is the best candidate at the moment. It allows the use of protective filters (needed for potentially dusty environments I'll be shooting in) which the 20/1.4 does not. Combined with the USB dock for focus adjustment, and frankly better overall build quality... it seems like the way to go.
Does anyone out there have first-hand experience with any/all of these lenses in an astrophotography use case?
The lens will also be used for landscape and nature photography, in low-light situations for both subjects.
p.1 #2 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Looks like you are set on the 24mm FL. If so, I highly recommend the Rokinon/Samyang/Bower 24/1.4. It is great for astro and has less sample variation than that of the 14/2.8.
p.1 #3 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
I don't think the 24mm is a hard/in-flexible requirement, but some of the most recommended focal length/aperture combinations fall right at 24mm.
And yes, Ian does strongly recommend the Rokinon/Samyang/Bower, but I don't think he's had a chance to go hands on with the Sigma Art lenses yet.
My thought process was "If the Rokinon is good, with it's low price and potentially dodgy build quality, then the Sigma Art must be as good or better, right?"
I'm definitely open to alternatives (in a similar price range)
p.1 #4 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
By no means am I an expert astrophotographer, nor do I have any personal experience with the lenses you are considering. However, if I were trying to decide between them, one of the resources that I would consult would be lenstip.com. Their reviews include measures and examples of coma aberration, and lots of other relevant info. Here are links to their reviews of the 3 lenses:
p.1 #5 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Astrophotography. You don't need autofocus nor will you have any use for it. In most cases, that is. Of course, for everyday use autofocus is a nice to have.
Anyhow, I'd take either samyang or Sigma 20mm. What I've read and the short experience I had with the Sigma 24mm, it has way too much coma. On the other hand, from the same manufacturer the 20mm art has a bearable amount of it, something you can live with.
One alternative is to buy both 14mm and 24mm samyangs.
p.1 #6 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Thanks for all the feedback.
I've checked up on the lenstip stuff, and yes the Rokinon does seem to perform better. DxOMark is pretty even between the two 24mm lenses.
And yes, autofocus for astrophotography is somewhere between frustrating and useless. But, an autofocus lens would allow for easy use for other subjects (landscape, cityscape, interiors).
Circling back, my main concern with the Rokinon is the inconsistency in manufacturing. I can wait for a good copy to show up for sale on FM... but they're pretty rare on the for sale boards here. The thought of having buy one, send it back, buy another and send it back (etc) just doesn't seem very appealing to me.
Has anyone just bought 2 or 3 copies at once and tested them all to see which one works best?
p.1 #7 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
I own the Samyang 24mm 1.4, and it only took me one copy to get a winner. It's equally sharp throughout the frame, and the coma is quite low. That said, I would prefer the Art just for general use as mostly I use my Samyang for environmental portraits
p.1 #8 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
It is good to hear that it only took one try to get a "hit" lens.
The 24/1.4 (no matter what brand) would be primarily used for astrophotography, so high coma (which appears to be a problem with the Sigma Art) is a no-go.
And for other uses where I need autofocus, I can always use a 24-70/2.8 (or something similar).
p.1 #9 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
I think you would enjoy the Samyang then. It seems to be the best astro lens in that focal length at f1.4, due to the low coma. Whether it's better than the Sigma 20mm f1.4 though, I'm not quite sure. The Samyang is cheap though which I do like
p.1 #10 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Gary Clennan wrote:
Looks like you are set on the 24mm FL. If so, I highly recommend the Rokinon/Samyang/Bower 24/1.4. It is great for astro and has less sample variation than that of the 14/2.8.
I've been on an astronomy craze lately, learning every day, and am all set to drag a 8" dob on my landscape field trips in Idaho this season coming season.
I need to attempt some astro
I don't think I need that monster 24, though But a good copy looks to give impressive results.
p.1 #11 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Hey Charlie! Would love to see some of your astro stuff. Be sure to let me know where you post... I am just getting into it and love it. Very challenging but satisfying at the same time. It's like an entirely different world at night....
p.1 #12 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Gary Clennan wrote:
Hey Charlie! Would love to see some of your astro stuff. Be sure to let me know where you post... I am just getting into it and love it. Very challenging but satisfying at the same time. It's like an entirely different world at night....
Haha, i have not yet dared! I'm just looking right now and learning the constellations. But it's funny those astro guys use the cooled CCD sensors literally just like the M9 in some cases. So if that guy can get the milky way with his 24, I should be able to use a cable and shoot a long exposure with the SEM 21 no?
But the astrophotography scene has huge fan base supporting many specialty cameras, which I never knew about till recently
p.1 #13 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Although slower lens at f2.8, the 14-24G is a good astro lens coma wise. Another fun thing is to stitch together shots with a less wide lens. The Lonely Speck website has good examples of that. I have done that with my Otus 55.
p.1 #14 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
I do plan to try some stitching with my 50/1.8, but due to the rule of 500 you're pretty much limited to 10 seconds of shutter time at most.
I would consider the 14-24, if it weren't 2-3 times the cost of some of the other lenses I'm considering. Given infinite budget... whoa man, then something like the Nikon 810A becomes a reality, but I'm not in that position.
p.1 #16 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
I've been using the new Nikon 20mm f1.8G. It has lower coma than Sigma 20mm, is a fast f1.8, very sharp, and is relatively light weight for use on a tracker. Curious why no one has mentioned this lens?
p.1 #17 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Regarding cityscapes and landscapes, you can always set the lens to the hyperfocal distance and shoot at f/8 with auto iso.
(that's for walkaround snappers. If you shoot from a tripod, manual focus should be the choice anyways)
p.1 #18 · Astrophotography - Rokinon 24/1.4 vs Sigma 24/1.4 vs Sigma 20/1.4
Two23 wrote:
I've been using the new Nikon 20mm f1.8G. It has lower coma than Sigma 20mm, is a fast f1.8, very sharp, and is relatively light weight for use on a tracker. Curious why no one has mentioned this lens?
Kent in SD As far as I know, Nikkor has slightly more coma than the Sigma 20mm art. It's also "only" f1,8 versus f1,4. But yes, it's a nice alternative. Light and relativity affordable. Takes filters too, if one desires to use them.
From what I've been able to find, the Samyang lenses are best for low coma and are sharp, but have much more distortion, CA and vignetting. I'm trying the Nikon 20mm f1.8G as I am learning astro photography but also wanted an excellent performing all around ultra wide. So far I've been very happy with it.
But a good copy looks to give impressive results.
